Loft conversion stairs: where they go and which type to choose
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
Getting a staircase into a loft is usually the hardest single part of a conversion to plan, because a loft is short on both floor space and height. There are really three questions: where it goes, what type it is, and what rules it triggers.
Where it goes
The most common and usually the best answer is to put the loft stair directly over the existing staircase. That continues the natural run up through the house, borrows the space that is already given over to stairs, and keeps the new flight out of the middle of a bedroom. It is not always possible, but it is the first thing to look at, because any other position eats into a room on the floor below.
Which type
The shape is dictated by the space more than by taste. Where there is room, a straight flight or a flight with winders is the most comfortable and the easiest to use with furniture. Where there is not, a spiral squeezes into the smallest normal footprint, and a space-saver (alternating tread) is the last resort for a genuinely tight spot, allowed only in limited circumstances. The trade-off is always the same: the more space you save, the harder the stair is to walk. See the types of staircase and space-saver stairs.
The rules a loft stair triggers
Two things a loft stair brings that an ordinary stair does not. First, fire. A loft conversion normally creates a habitable floor more than 4.5m above ground, which turns the stairway into a protected escape route: fire-resisting construction and fire doors, and often upgrading existing doors. That is a real requirement, covered in do wooden stairs need fire rating. Second, headroom. Lofts rarely have the full 2m, so a reduced allowance applies, 1.9m at the centre and 1.8m at the side, and it is the single thing loft stairs most often fail on, drawn out in loft stair headroom. Plan both in early, because they are far cheaper to design for than to retrofit.
Frequently asked
Where should a loft conversion staircase go?+
Usually directly over the existing staircase. That continues the run of stairs up through the house, uses space already given to the stairwell, and avoids eating into a bedroom. It is not always possible, but it is the first option to look at, because any other position takes floor space from a room on the level below.
What type of staircase is best for a loft conversion?+
It depends on the space. Where there is room, a straight flight or one with winders is the most comfortable. Where space is tight, a spiral has the smallest normal footprint, and a space-saver (alternating tread) is a last resort allowed only in limited circumstances. The more space the stair saves, the harder it is to walk, so it is a balance.
Do loft conversion stairs need a fire door?+
Usually yes. A loft conversion typically creates a floor more than 4.5m above ground, which requires the staircase to become a protected escape route with fire-resisting construction and fire doors, and existing doors onto the stairway may need upgrading. It is a building control requirement, not optional, so it should be designed in from the start.
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